Americans Speaking Out On Health Care See Another Battle Won | Rachel Maddow

WHICH I TRUST A LOT, THIS THAT IS WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE 0
EXPECTING. THIS YEAR WE'VE LEARNED TO
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. WE TEND TO LOOK AT NEWS FROM
CONGRESS AS TO WHAT HAPPENS THERE IS DRIVEN BY FORCES THAT
ARE PRURLY INSIDE WASHINGTON, D.C.
YOU'RE COVERING STUFF IN WASHINGTSHINGTON AND SO YOU LOO
AROUND IN WASHINGTON TO SEE WHAT EXPLAINS WHAT JUST HAPPENED.
I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE, THOUGH, THAT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO
UNDERSTAND WHY REPUBLICANS ARE FAILING AGAIN TO PASS THEIR
HEALTH BILL, RIGHT, WHY REPUBLICANS WITH REPUBLICAN
CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, REPUBLICAN CONTROL OF THE SENATE AND A
REPUBLICAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE WHO WOULD LIKELY SIGN ANYTHING
LABELED HEALTH CARE, WHY THESE FOLKS CANNOT PASS THE ONE THING
THEY ALL AGREED ON AND CAMPAIGNED ON, REPEALING
OBAMACARE, WHY CAN'T THEY DO IT? I DON'T THINK IT CAN BE
EXPLAINED IN WASHINGTON. I THINK IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND
THAT YOU MIGHT ALSO LOOK AROUND AT WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT WHERE
YOU LIVE. FOR EXAMPLE, TAKE THE NINTH
DISTRICT IN VIRGINIA, REPRESENTED BY THIS GUY,
CONGRESSMAN MORGAN GRIFFITH. A REPUBLICAN CONGRESS FROM
VIRGINIA. HE VOTED TO REPEAL OBAMACARE.
HIS CONSTITUENTS SAY IF THE REPUBLICAN BILL BECOMES LOW LAW,
62,000 PEOPLE IN HIS TRIKT WILL LOSE THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE.
TO HELP DRIVE THAT POINT HOME, THEY MADE HIM A VISUAL AID.
THIS WEEKEND THE CONSTITUENTS SPENT THEIR SUNDAY STAPLING
62,000 PIECES OF PAPER IN A PAPER CHAIN.
EVERY LINK REPRESENTS AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON IN THAT
DISTRICT WHO WOULD LOSE ALL HEALTH INSURANCE UNDER THE
REPUBLICAN HEALTH CARE PLAN TO REPEAL OBAMACARE.
62,000. THEY PIECED OUT TOGETHER, LAID
IT OUT FLAT ACROSS A FOOTBALL FIELD.
THE WHOLE THING CLOCKED IN AROUND 3 MILES LONG.
THEN THEY STUFFED ALL 15,000-PLUS FEET OF IT INTO
CRASH BAGS AND DELIVERED THIS CHAIN TO THEIR CONGRESSMAN,
MORGAN GRIFFITH. GRASS ROOTS EFFORTS DID NOT TAKE
THE WEEKEND OFF, LEADING INTO THIS DRAMATIC DEVELOPS TONIGHT.
TUCSON, ARIZONA, YOU KNOW HOW HOT IT IS IN MID JULY,
PROTESTERS BRAVED BRUTAL HEAT OUTSIDE SENATOR JOHN McCAIN'S
OFFICE. FEW PEOPLE BROUGHT UMBRELLAS
WITH THEM TO STAY COOL. OVER IN NORTH CAROLINA, PATRICK
McHENRY'S CONSTITUENTSSPRUCED UP HIS SIGN WITH TOMBSTONES
REMINDING HIM OF PEOPLE WHO COULD DIE BECAUSE OF THE BILL.
HERE IN CALIFORNIA A GOOD SIZE GROUP OF PEOPLE TURNED UP TO
TALK TO PAUL COOK. WHEN THEY FOUNLD OUT THE OFFICE
WAS CLOSED, THEY STOOD DOWNSTAIRS CHANTING, "WE'LL BE
BACK." .
WHEN THE SENATE GOT TO WORK TODAY IN WASHINGTON, D.C., THEY
WOULD BARELY MAKE IT THROUGH THE DOOR.
PROTESTS STARTED IN THE SENATE ATRIUM IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
PEOPLE CHANTING THEIR STORIES ABOUT HOW OBAMACARE HELPED SAVE
THEIR LIVES. CAPITOL POLICE GAVE THEIR FIRST
WARNING TO CLEAR THE AREA. PROTESTERS SAT DOWN ON THE
GROUND. POLICE STARTED ROUNDING THEM UP,
FOLDED UP THEIR BANNERS AND MADE ARRESTS.
SOME PEOPLE MADE IT UPSTAIRS, 15 ACTIVISTS CROWDED INTO THE
OFFICE, WROTE HIM A SONG TO "HE'S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW"
EXPECT THEY CHANGED THE WORD TO "YOU SHOULD VOTE NO ON HEALTH
CARE." PROTESTERS WERE LESS JOLLY HERE,
YELLING, "YOUR JOB IS ON THE LINE."
EVENTUALLY THEY WERE KICKED OUT OF THAT OFFICE.
THEY PARKED THEMSELVES ON THE FLOOR RIGHT OUTSIDE THE SENATOR
OFFICE DOOR. POLICE MADE MORE ARRESTS THERE.
INCLUDE THIS WOMAN IN A WHEELCHAIR WHO KEPT CHANTING.
MORE THAN 30 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED AT THE CAPITOL TODAY.
WHILE THEY WERE GOING ON, A GROUP STOPPED A BUNCH OF
SENATORS AT THEIR D.C. OFFICES. THEY CALL THOECHLSS THE LITTLE
LOBBYISTS. CARRYING AROUND A BINDER OF KIDS
WHO HAVE STAYED ALIVE BECAUSE OF OBAMACARE.
NOBODY WAS SENATOR ELHER'S STAFF WERE ABLE TO MEET WITH THEM BUT
THINK DID GIVE THE KIDS ICE CREAM.
WHICH WAS AWESOME. AFTER ENDURING THIS FACE-TO-FACE
PRESSURE, THIS KIND OF INTENSE PRESSURE FROM THEIR CONSTITUENTS
FOR WEEKS AND WEEKS, BOTH AT HOME, IN THEIR HOME STATES AND
HOME DISTRICTS AND ALSO AT THEIR OFFICES IN WASHINGTON, D.C., THE
FLOOD GATES REALLY DID OPEN TONIGHT.
THEY HAD TWO NO VOTES BEFORE TONIGHT.
THAT'S ALL THEY COULD SPARE. NOW WE'RE UP TO FOUR.
FOUR MEMBERS OF THE SENATE WHO SHAY THEY'RE FIRMLY AGAINST THE
BILL. THAT MEANS THAT MITCH McCONNELL
IS NOT GOING TO PASS THIS THING. NOT UNLESS HE CHANGES TWO OF
THEIR MINDS AND DOESN'T LOSE ANYBODY ELSE.
SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW REALLY IS ANYONE'S GUESS.
THIS IS REALLY BIG NEWS TONIGHT. BUT I GOT TO TELL YOU ONE
CONSTANT THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS FROM THE VERY START HAS
BEEN HOW THE MAJORITY OF THIS COUNTRY REALLY STRONGLY DOES NOT
WANT THE REPUBLICANS TO DO THIS. AND THESE PROTESTS HAVE BEEN
RELENTLESS. THEY'RE STILL PLANNED, MORE ARE
STILL PLANNED AT THE CAPITAL AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THROUGHOUT
THIS WEEK. BUT THEY'VE HAD A HUGE VICTORY
TONIGHT. JOINING US TONIGHT IS EZRA
ELEVEN, A COFOUND ARE OF INDIVISIBLE, HELPING FOLKS TO
ORGANIZE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THEY'VE TAKEN POINT IN AS BEST
THEY CAN WHEN IT COMES TO THE HEALTH CARE BILL.
MR. LEVIN, APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE CALL.
>> THANKS FOR CALLING ME. >> PARDON ME TAKE ON WHY THIS IS
BIG NEWS TOE NIGHT AND WHERE I THINK THIS COMES FROM.
AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN REALLY INVOLVED AS THESE INDIVISIBLE
GROUPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE MOBILIZED SO AGGRESSIVELY ON
THIS. ARE YOU SEEING THIS TONIGHT AS A
VICTORY? ARE YOU CAUTIOUS IN VIEWING
WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE? DO YOU THINK YOU'VE WON?
>> SO THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A WIN. I THINK THE WAY YOU FRAMED IT
WAS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. CHANGE IS COMING TO WASHINGTON.
IT IS NOT STARTING IN WASHINGTON.
WE ARE, AS OF THURSDAY, SIX MONTHS INTO THE TRUMP
PRESIDENCY. THERE'S A UNIFIED CONSERVATIVE
GOVERNMENT THE LIKES OF WHICH WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN OVER A DECADE
AND YET THEY HAVE YET TO PASS A SINGLE SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION. THAT HE'S NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T
HAVE CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENT. THEY DO.
IT'S BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ARE AGAINST THE AGENDA THEY'RE
PUSHING. IT IS AMAZING TO SEE.
TONIGHT IS A BIG WIN. ITS NOT A FINAL VICTORY BUT IT
IS A HUGE ONE WIN AND ONE THAT GROUPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE
BEEN WORKING TOWARDS AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS.
REALLY ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THAT'S INSPIRING TO SEE, PEOPLE
STANDING UP ON THEIR HOME TURF MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD.
>> THAT IS THE CORE B BEHIND TH INDIVISIBLE MOVEMENT.
WHEREVER YOU LIVE YOU SHOULD BE CONTACTING YOUR OWN OFFICIALS.
THAT'S WHY THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY CALLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
FOR TOWN HALLS AND ME OTHER MEETING, ANY OTHER FORUM WHERE
REPRESENTATIVES HAVE TO LOOK THEIR OWN CONSTITUENTS IN THE
EYE. GIVEN THAT HAS BEEN YOUR FOCUS
ON THE INDIVISIBLE SIDE OF THINGS, WHAT DO YOU MAKE ABOUT
THE DIRECT ACTION TACTICS THAT WE'RE SHOWING ON THE SCREEN
HERE, PEOPLE DOING SIT-INS, PEOPLE PROTESTING, GETTING
ARRESTED. HOW DOES THAT INTEGRATE WITH THE
KIND OF WORK THAT INDIVISIBLE HAS BEEN DOING?
>> I HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF RESPECT FOR THE GROUPS ON THE
GROUND. THEY'VE BEEN INDIVISIBLE
MEMBERS, PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND MOVE ON AND OTHERS.
THIS IS A DIRECT PART OF THIS STRATEGY, WHICH IS SHINING A
LIGHT ON EXACTLY WHAT CONGRESS IS DOING.
I THINK ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL MONTHS IS REPUBLICANS AREN'T HOLDING TOWN HALLS.
THEY'RE NOT FACING THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
VERY FEW ARE. WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN RESPONSE TO
THAT IS IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO COME TO ME, I'M GOING TO COME TO
YOU. THEY'RE GOING TO THE DISTRICT
OFFICES AND OTHER PUBLIC EVENTS AND IT'S WORKING.
SENATOR MORAN OUGHT TO GET A LOT OF CREDIT.
HE WAS WITHIN OF A COUPLE OF REPUBLICAN SENATORS WHO HELD A
TOWN HALL OVER THE JULY 4th RECESS.
HELD IT IN A VERY TINY TOWN IN KANSAS WITH POPULATION 277.
150 PEOPLE SHOWED UP AT THAT TOWN HALL, INCLUDING KANSAS CITY
INDIVISIBLE AND OTHERS WHO MADE THE TREK OUT THERE TO TALK TO
THEIR SENATOR. THAT WORKS.
SHOWING UP AND DOING SIT-INS WORKS.
IT'S ABOUT PUTTING PRESSURE ON. HEY WE'RE WATCHING YOU.
I LOVE SEEING THAT. >> EZRA LEVIN, THANKS FOR
TALKING TO US TONIGHT. IT'S A BIG BUSY NIGHT WITH THE
BREAKING NEWS. >> TOMORROW IS A BIG BUSY DAY, A
NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION. KEEP THIS PRESSURE ON AND WE'LL
KILL THIS BILL. >> AGAIN THE REPUBLICAN EFFORT
TO REPEAL OBAMACARE APPEARS TO HAVE FALLEN APART.
AS YOU HEARD EZRA LEVIN SAY, A COFOUNDER OF A GROUP NATIONWIDE
ORGANIZING EFFORTS THAT'S REALLY BEEN TRYING TO STOP THE
REPUBLICAN EFFORT TO REPEAL OBAMACARE.
YOU HEARD HIM SAY THIS IS NOT OVER.
KRAUSHSLY OPTIMISTIC. BUT FOUR REPUBLICAN SENATORS
SAYING THEY'LL VOTE NO IS ENOUGH TO KILL IT.
I FOR ONE WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS DEVELOPMENT TONIGHT.
WE'LL TALK THE ONE OF THE DEMOCRATIC SENATORS ON THE
DEMOCRAT SIDE OF THE BILL TO GET HIS PERSPECTIVE ON HOW FINAL
THIS

Americans Speaking Out On Health Care See Another Battle Won | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC

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